Earlier this week, Rockies manager Jim Tracy quipped that starting catcher Yorvit Torrealba was so battered and bruised “he looked like a grape.”

And to think that Torrealba is one of the healthy Rockies.

Tracy can afford to joke, because the Rockies continue to win, despite all of the arms packed in ice and legs wrapped in bandages.

They broomed the Reds 5-1 at Coors Field Thursday to complete a four-game sweep and build a seven-game winning streak, despite starter Jose Contreras pulling up with a strained right quadriceps while running the bases in the third inning.

Colorado did what it needed to on its homestand, winning nine of 10 to put itself into comfortable position in the National League wild-card race and keep the pressure on NL West-leading Los Angeles. The Rockies moved within two games of the Dodgers in the West and extended their lead over San Francisco in the wild-card race to 4 1/2 games.

Now another road test looms, beginning tonight in San Diego, the start of a nine-game West Coast trip.

“We are playing great baseball,” said Jason Giambi, who filled in at first for Todd Helton and hit a two- run double in the Rockies’ five-run third inning. “I’m excited that we are doing the little things, moving runners, getting big hits when we need it and getting great pitching. That’s what you want to do down the stretch. I think we can keep it going.”

The Padres, despite their 63-78 record, are playing much better of late. They recently took two of three at Atlanta and two of three at Florida, gumming up those teams’ wild-card plans.

The Padres also won a series last weekend at Los Angeles and took two of three at San Francisco this week to help out the Rockies.

They’ll host a remarkably deep and resilient Rockies team that seemingly produces a new hero each night.

Thursday, without starting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki or starting third baseman Ian Stewart, both out with back injuries, the Rockies scored five runs after two outs and no one on in the third.

Rookie Eric Young Jr. reached on a bunt single, which was mishandled by pitcher Kip Wells, then stole second. Carlos Gonzalez walked. The sizzling Seth Smith roped a single to right, scoring Young. Up stepped the 38-year-old Giambi. Tabbed before the game as “The Gladiator” by Tracy, Giambi doubled over the head of Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs, who stumbled on the play, driving home Gonzalez and Smith.

The encore came from Garrett Atkins, who parked a Wells fastball in the left-field bleachers, his first home run at Coors Field since April 25.

Young has fast become one of the symbols of the Rockies’ depth. With Tulowitzki out, Clint Barmes has moved over from second to shortstop. That left a hole at second, but Young has filled it with speed and exuberance. Thursday, he stole the first two bases of his big-league career. Over the past four games, he’s started three times, gone 6-for-11 and scored five runs.

“I’m just trying to get everybody pumped up and excited for their at-bat,” Young said. “With Tulo’s back stiffing up and Stewart out, you have to keep the train going. But I think this is going to help us in the long run, because everybody is doing their part, no matter how big or small. It’s going to pay off. Today, I helped out with my speed and Atkins helped out with his power.”

Four assistant basketball coaches at Division I schools and a top Adidas executive were among 10 people charged Tuesday with crimes including bribery and fraud as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into corruption in college basketball.

CenturyLink, the telecommunications company that ended its sponsorship agreement with Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall because of his protests during the national anthem last year, said it will not terminate its agreement with current client Emmanuel Sanders.